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Scotland’s women’s rugby team is set to make history on Saturday by playing a standalone match at Murrayfield Stadium, the national venue traditionally reserved for the men’s side. The fixture against long‑time rivals England marks the first time the team will host a Six Nations game at Scotland’s premier rugby ground.Ticket sales have already surpassed 30,000, obliterating the previous Scottish women’s rugby attendance record of 7,774 set earlier this year at the Hive. The expected crowd also promises to be the largest audience ever for a standalone women’s sporting event in Scotland.Team captain Rachel Malcolm, who earned her first cap in 2016, described the occasion as a "landmark moment" and emphasized the importance of growing the sport’s profile: "Playing at our national stadium with crowds this size is something I never imagined in my career."Former Scotland star Donna Kennedy – the nation’s most‑capped player with 115 caps – credited the surge in interest to the team’s performance at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, where Scotland reached the quarter‑finals for the first time since 2002. She noted that the tournament provided a commercial and media springboard that has only accelerated in the past five years.England arrive as the dominant force in the competition, having won the Six Nations seven years in a row and maintaining a 28‑game winning streak against Scotland. The last Scottish victory over the Red Roses came in 1999, 27 years ago.Despite England’s pedigree, they head into the match with a significant injury list. Alex Matthews (vice‑captain) is out with a shoulder problem, while prop Hannah Botterman and hooker May Campbell have been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. In total, England are missing 13 players due to retirement, pregnancy or injury, opening opportunities for newcomers such as Demelza Short, who will earn her first senior cap.Scotland also face a setback, missing scrum‑half Emma Orr through injury, but they remain optimistic that England’s depleted roster could level the playing field.England defence coach Sarah Hunter acknowledged the challenges, suggesting the situation could be a "blessing in disguise" for player development ahead of the 2029 World Cup in Australia. She highlighted the chance for younger talent to gain experience in a high‑pressure environment.With a record crowd, historic venue, and the prospect of ending a decades‑long losing streak, Saturday’s clash promises to be a defining moment for women’s rugby in Scotland and a compelling chapter in the Six Nations narrative.

England's women's football team, the Lionesses, are on the cusp of a historic milestone as they prepare to play their 500th game against Iceland in a World Cup qualifier. Manager Sarina Wiegman has stressed the importance of securing a positive result to make their recent 1-0 victory over Spain even more valuable.Wiegman acknowledged that Iceland will present a different challenge, but she is confident that her team is ready. The Lionesses have three wins from three in their qualifying group, and with only the top team from each group in League A securing automatic qualification, the stakes are high.The team has been boosted by the return of Leah Williamson, who has not played since mid-March due to a thigh injury. However, Keira Barry is the only confirmed absence due to ankle problems.Lucy Bronze, who has 146 caps for England, reflected on the significance of the 500th game, saying it's 'insane' to think about. She expressed her pride in being part of the team's history and is optimistic about the future, citing the talent of young players like Lucia Kendall.

Ipswich Town is in a strong position to secure promotion to the Premier League, but their lead is not insurmountable. A Championship record fee of around £20m was offered for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, but he turned it down. Hackney's absence due to a calf injury has impacted Middlesbrough's performance, with the team drifting to fifth place. Ipswich Town's manager, Kieran McKenna, is aiming to guide the team straight back to the Premier League. The team's top scorer, Jack Clarke, has 14 goals, while Jaden Philogene has been spectacular when fit. The Dutch holding midfielder Azor Matusiwa has been instrumental in Ipswich's success this season. However, Ipswich Town's recent 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth has given hope to other contenders. Southampton, who went down with Ipswich Town, have surged back into contention under new management. The Championship's unpredictability means that anything can happen in the final stretch of the season. Ipswich Town's next match against Middlesbrough at Portman Road is crucial. A win would put them on the brink of promotion, but a loss could open the door for other teams. The pressure will be high at Ipswich Town's packed home stadium, and the team's ability to handle it will be key to their success.

Angelina Jolie leads the new fashion‑driven drama Couture, bringing a rare level of personal honesty by confronting a storyline that mirrors her own double mastectomy performed to prevent breast cancer. While her performance is undeniably courageous, the film’s overall execution falls short of its ambitions.The plot follows Maxine, an American indie filmmaker (Jolie) who arrives in Paris to direct the opening short for a prestigious runway show. She discovers, through a compassionate doctor played by Vincent Lindon, that a recent biopsy confirms she has breast cancer, forcing her to consider postponing or abandoning her next project. Jolie conveys the shock and denial with subtlety, yet the script, penned by director Alice Winocour, often lapses into glib dialogue that undermines the emotional weight of the situation.Supporting characters include Ada, a fledgling South Sudanese model (Anyier Anei), makeup‑artist‑turned‑writer Angèle (Ella Rumpf), and the brooding first‑assistant director Anton (Louis Garrel). Their subplots—most notably Ada’s ankle injury that threatens the runway performance—remain underdeveloped, serving more as decorative set‑pieces than integral narrative threads.Visually, the film captures the glamour of Parisian haute couture with polished cinematography, yet this sheen accentuates the story’s lack of depth. The fashion world is presented with a “precious” aesthetic that feels specious, offering little insight beyond surface‑level allure.Despite these shortcomings, Jolie’s star power shines through. Her willingness to align a fictional role with a deeply personal health battle adds a layer of authenticity that the surrounding screenplay fails to sustain. ‘Couture’ will be available on digital platforms from 20 April, offering audiences a chance to appreciate Jolie’s performance even if the film’s broader ambitions remain unfulfilled.

Alex Manninger, 48, died when his vehicle was hit by a train at a level crossing near Salzburg on Thursday morning. The accident occurred at approximately 8:20 am local time (06:20 GMT), according to Salzburg police. The former Austria goalkeeper, who earned 33 caps for his country, spent the early part of his career at Arsenal (1997‑2001), where he was part of the squad that won the league and FA Cup in the 1997‑98 season, before finishing his playing days at Liverpool in 2017. In Italy he guarded the posts for Fiorentina, Torino, Bologna, Siena, Udinese and Juventus. OEFB Sporting Director Peter Schoettel called Manninger “an outstanding ambassador of Austrian football” and praised his “professionalism, calmness and reliability” that inspired a generation of young goalkeepers. Police reports indicate the car was hit by a railcar of the Salzburger Lokalbahn while crossing the tracks and was dragged along. The driver – Manninger – was alone in the vehicle; the train driver escaped injury. First responders freed him, but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. Clubs paid tribute: Fiorentina announced a minute’s silence and black armbands for their Conference League match against Crystal Palace, while Arsenal expressed shock on social media. Liverpool and Juventus also released statements, with Juventus noting that Manninger will be remembered for his “humility, dedication and exceptional professionalism.” The tragic loss underscores the dangers of level‑crossing accidents and has prompted an outpouring of grief across the football community.

Caro Claire Burke's Yesteryear had all the makings of a thought-provoking novel: a tradwife protagonist who wakes up in the pioneer days and finds that traditional wifedom is not as glamorous as her social media persona had suggested. The premise is genius, and the protagonist Natalie's biting and occasionally hilarious voice makes the novel zip along.However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Burke has failed to create a convincing mother figure in Natalie, and the novel's exploration of pronatalism and traditional Christian values feels shallow and cliched. The author's decision to remove politics almost entirely from the narrative is also a major omission, particularly given the current cultural climate.The novel's main drive becomes resolving the mystery of Natalie's situation - has she really time travelled, or is this an awful reality TV show? - to the detriment of more profound concerns. Burke's treatment of birth injury and child disability as a plot point is also shockingly cack-handed and feels cynical and underresearched.Overall, Yesteryear is a disappointing novel that fails to live up to its promise. Despite its talented author, the book feels like a lesson in not allowing a fun premise to get in the way of a good story.

Arsenal's Premier League title hopes hang in the balance as they prepare to face Manchester City on Sunday. Midfielder Declan Rice has urged his team to elevate their performance, acknowledging that their recent form has been a concern.Rice, 27, highlighted the team's inconsistent style of play, which has drawn criticism from fans. Despite being six points clear of City at the top of the table, Rice emphasized that Arsenal must improve if they are to press their title claims.The midfielder reflected on a rollercoaster few weeks for Arsenal, including a Carabao Cup final defeat against City and a sobering home loss to Bournemouth in the league. However, they have also shown resilience, progressing to the Champions League semi-finals with a 0-0 draw against Sporting.Rice stressed the importance of performing better, particularly in terms of possession and confidence on the ball. He acknowledged that the team's recent errors have been costly, but they managed to rectify this against Sporting.“It's about doing the basics a little bit better, to a better level … just the five-, 10-yard passes that we're giving away a bit sloppily,” Rice said. “And just that confidence with the ball, just taking more touches, relaxing on the ball, not feeling under pressure.”Rice also expressed his desire for revenge against City, citing the pain of watching them lift the Carabao Cup trophy. He emphasized that the upcoming match is a significant test, but one that Arsenal is ready for.“To go there and win would be a massive statement,” Rice said. “And look, these boys are ready. We spoke as a group. We know what's required.”Arsenal have struggled to score in recent games, managing only three goals in their last five matches. Rice attributed this to the defensive strategies employed by opposing teams, particularly the low blocks they have faced.Despite these challenges, Rice remains committed to contributing to the team, having overcome illness to play against Sporting. He emphasized the importance of availability and depth, particularly with key players like Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka sidelined through injury.

French footballer Hugo Ekitike has been ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to a serious injury. The 23-year-old striker ruptured his Achilles tendon during Liverpool's Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, which ended in a 2-0 loss for Liverpool.The injury occurred at Anfield on Tuesday night, where Liverpool exited the competition with a 4-0 aggregate defeat. Ekitike, who pointed to his Achilles tendon as medical staff attended to him, was carried off on a stretcher.Reports from French newspapers Le Parisien and L’Equipe confirmed the news of Ekitike's injury on Wednesday. The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.Ekitike, who joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt for £69 million ($93.58m) last July, has had a significant impact this season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions. He has also made a notable contribution to the French national team, scoring two international goals in his last four games for France.As a key understudy to Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, Ekitike's absence will be felt by the French team. The French football federation (FFF) has yet to comment on the matter.

England Test captain Ben Stokes has revealed that he feels fortunate to be alive after undergoing surgery for a broken cheekbone sustained during a cricket training session. The incident occurred when Stokes, 34, was hit in the face by a cricket ball while coaching young players at his domestic county side Durham in February.Stokes required major facial surgery to repair the damage and has since expressed his gratitude for a positive outcome, acknowledging that the situation could have been much worse. He mentioned that if he hadn't turned his head at the right moment, the consequences could have been fatal.“I copped one straight in the face,” Stokes told the England and Wales Cricket Board. “Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest. Just a couple of inches one way or the other, I might not be here doing this interview, if I didn’t turn my head round.”Stokes is set to return to action in two first-class County Championship games next month and is expected to lead England in their home Test series against New Zealand starting on June 4. The team is looking to bounce back from a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.In addition to his injury update, Stokes also downplayed reports of a rift with England coach Brendon McCullum, emphasizing their shared goal of achieving success with the team. Stokes and McCullum have implemented an aggressive style of play known as “Bazball,” which has been under scrutiny following England’s recent performance.